Toyota TMG EV P001 smashes electric vehicle Nurburgring lap record

Toyota has shattered the electric vehicle lap record at the Nurburgring with its TMG EV P001 sports car.

With a time of 7:47.794 around the 20.8km Nurburgring Nordschleife circuit, the TMG EV P001 eclipsed the previous lap record (9:01.338, held by the Peugeot EX1) by more than 70 seconds.

Based on a Radical Sportscars chassis, the TMG EV is powered by two electric motors with a maximum combined output of 800Nm of torque, helping the electric racer to a top speed of 260km/h.

The TMG EV was fitted with road-legal tyres and the record was set in good weather, although the track temperature was reportedly relatively low.

TMG (Toyota Motorsport GmbH) technical director, Pascal Vasselon, said company’s engineers had learnt an enormous amount from the record attempt.

“We have enhanced our electric powertrain development thanks to the information our engineers have gained and our future EV products will benefit from this project,” Mr Vasselon said.

TMG director business operations, Rob Leupen, said the EV P001’s record proved there was “huge potential” for EVs to deliver fast and exciting action on the racetrack.

“There’s no doubt that electric motorsport can be every bit as thrilling as traditional racing and it was an amazing sensation to watch the TMG electric vehicle fly past on the Nordschleife, with only the sound of wind rushing past and tyres squealing,” Mr Leupen said.

“This is not the end of the story for TMG and I hope we will see our electric powertrains in action on the track again soon.”

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